President Alvi urges world to take steps against Islamophobia

ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi urged the international community on Tuesday to take decisive action against the rising tide of Islamophobia by putting the brakes on extremist elements. In order to combat misperceptions about Islam, he emphasized the importance of fostering interfaith harmony and dialogue among different religions.

The president vehemently denounced the incidents of Holy Quran blasphemy in Denmark and the Netherlands and declared that hate speech directed at particular religions could not be referred to as free speech. He claimed that incidents of blasphemy motivated by Islamophobia were hurting the feelings of Muslims all over the world. Blasphemy, he noted, is against the standards of free expression established internationally.

Alvi said Islam focuses on promoting peace and brotherhood among mankind and stressed an action by the world to counter Islamophobia.

Meanwhile, President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday expressed condolence with the the family members of the martyred Pakistan army personnel, Havaldar Azhar Iqbal and Naik Muhammad Asad.

The troops were martyred in a terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan on March 20.

The president contacted via telephone with the father of Havaldar Azhar Iqbal and brother of Naik Muhammad Asad and paid tributes to the martyrs for sacrificing their lives for the country. He also saluted the families of the martyrs for sacrificing their loved ones.

The president prayed to Allah Almighty for the elevation of ranks of the martyrs in paradise and for the grant of courage to the bereaved families.

Moreover, President Dr Arif Alvi has summoned the session of the Senate on March 30 at 10.30 am, the President House said Tuesday.

The president has convened the session of the Upper House in accordance with the Article 54(1) of the Constitution.